MAP BioPharma

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has officially begun to move into its temporary premises, the Spark Building in Amsterdam, in anticipation of its formal seat change from London to Amsterdam on 30th March 2019. It will move into its permanent, tailor-made premises in Amsterdam Zuidas once this becomes available.

The EMA’s relocation is prompted by the UK’s planned departure from the EU on 29th March 2019, as its governing regulations mandate its location within an EU Member State. Indeed, they recently lost a high-profile legal battle against their London landlord, as their argument that Brexit rendered their location within the UK illegal was substantively rejected.

The EMA anticipates that around 350 of their staff members will have completed the relocation by Monday 18th March 2019, with others following in the coming months to allow for family relocations. However, they expect to lose around 25% of their 900-strong workforce.